SOUTHEAST MALUKU EXPEDITION
15 TO 29 NOVEMBER 2006 (15 DAYS / 14 NIGHTS)

THE SOUTHEASTERN MALUKU ISLANDS ARE CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE PARTS OF THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGO. LOCATED WELL BEYOND BALI, THE HUNDRED-ODD ISLANDS OF THIS ARCHIPELAGO LIE SPREAD ACROSS THE VAST EXPANSES OF THE SOUTH BANDA SEA, THE DEEPEST OF ALL INDONESIAN SEAS, WITH AN ABYSS OF OVER 7,000 METERS.





THIS VOYAGE ACROSS THE SOUTH BANDA SEA WILL CALL AT SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THESE ISLANDS, SOME VOLCANIC AND DRESSED IN LUXURIANT VEGETATION, OTHERS CORAL ATOLLS, MORE DRY AND BARREN, AND LINED WITH SWAYING PALMS.

THIS ARCHIPELAGO, HOWEVER REMOTE IT MAY BE, IS A ENCHANTING PLACE FOR THE ADVENTUROUS TRAVELLER; THERE ARE TOWERING VOLCANOS TO CLIMB, TRIBAL POPULATIONS WITH A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE TO ENCOUNTER, UNINABITED ISLANDS SET IN DEEP BLUE SEAS, KALEIDOSCOPIC CORAL REEFS NEVER VISITED BEFORE, AND GREAT SCENERY THAT WILL CHANGE EVERY MORNING, AS YOU COME ON DECK AFTER A NIGHT’S SLEEP ON THE KATHARINA. WELCOME ABOARD FOR A HIGHLY INUSUAL VOYAGE OF EXPLORATION.

Date:
From 15 November 2006 to 29 November 2006
Departure: Timika (Barat Papua) – Arrival: Maumere (Flores)

Price:
USD 2.950 per person
Including: 15 days cruise and domestic flights from and back to Bali. All Meals and drinks
(except alcoholic drinks) are included during the cruise. (*)
Excluding: sailor staff tips (5 to 10 USD/day)

Availability: 16 Guests
(*) Diving is not included but could be organized on demand. The price charged will depend on the number of divers.

Proposed Itinerary
15 Nov.: Night flight from Bali to Timika with a B737 from Garuda Indonesia airlines. Upon arrival early morning and after having retrieved our luggage, transfer by bus (1, 5 hours) to the harbor set upriver a few miles from the sea. We’ll depart at once and will soon be in high sea sailing towards the Aru Islands. A swim stop in the middle of the blue will be enjoyed in the afternoon as well as some fishing. Night sailing.

16 Nov.: We’ll spend our first day in the Aru archipelago by exploring with our zodiac the main channel separating two of the bigger islands. This environment is unique in the world as it is part seawater and part fresh water depending of the tide. Stops at local villages are also planned as well as short nature hike in surrounding forest. Short night sailing.

17 Nov.: Our second day in the Aru archipelago will be spent exploring the uninhabited islands making up the “Aru Tenggara Nature Reserve”, a little known reserve at the south-eastern tip of the archipelago: snorkeling, exploration dives and short nature hikes. By mid-afternoon, we’ll be sailing due west towards the Tanimbar’s.

18 Nov.: We’ll first stop at the northern part of the Tanimbars, at the islands of Fordade and Larat. Village exploration, nature hike, beach, snorkeling and exploration dives will be the order of the day. Short night sailing.

19 Nov.: Further to the south, on the western seaboard of the archipelago are islands of quiet beauty with untouched forest teeming with birds, wild orchids and cuscus. This will be another day of nature exploration, coastal raid with our zodiac, and some relaxing time on remote beaches. Night sailing.

20 Nov.: The island of Dai – in the Babar archipelago – is a spectacular limestone mountain towering 650 meters above the sea. The beaches and the reefs are exceptional. We can also trek across the whole island to enjoy incredible scenery from the summit. Local folk’s sills go hunting with bows and arrows in these parts. Night sailing.

21 Nov.: The volcanic island of Damar has an active volcano that can be ascended in about three hours, best in the early hours after dawn. Alternatively, we can have an easier hike through spice plantations, coconut groves and pristine rain forest, ending at the local village. Midday sail for a couple of hours to uninhabited Pulau Terbang Utara to enjoy pristine beaches, coral reefs (snorkeling and diving) and a lagoon full of birds, including – occasionally – large flocks of pelicans. Night sailing.

22 Nov.: Isolated Sermata archipelago is a small group of dry limestone islands with a few coastal villages. The diving at the spots we have surveyed is world-class with a good chance of seeing pelagic species. We’ll also have a walk on the main island and some relaxing time on the beaches of tiny Kelapa Island.

23 Nov.: Morning on uninhabited Moapora island, in the Romang archipelago: beach combing, snorkeling, diving and short hikes inland. Afternoon, we’ll be on Romang island proper for a three hour hike from the eastern village to the beautiful western bay passing through orange and pomelo groves with great scenery on surrounding islands. Night sailing.

24 Nov.: Wetar is possibly one of the least known of the southeastern Maluku islands; totally isolated tribal folks are still said to inhabit its jungle-clad interior. We’ll have a nature stop in the morning along the northern coast: hike inland following a river of crystal clear water. Midday sail to the western tip of Wetar for spectacular diving and snorkeling close to a small offshore island. Night sailing.

25 Nov.: Our first morning in Alor will be spent exploring the main island: the old tribal villages there are defensively located on hilltops and have a particular architecture. We’ll hike early morning for about three hours from one tribal village to the next. Return to vessel at midday and sail to nearby Pura island: you can enjoy spectacular snorkeling and diving right off the beach, and also walks to coastal villages where locals produce ikat cloth as well as some wine made from palm sap. Short night sailing.

26 Nov.: The Sirung volcano on Pantar Island is probably the most interesting volcano to climb in this part of Indonesia. The caldera is highly active with large sulfur vents and pools of boiling mud that can be approached from reasonable distance. This is a 7 hours trek from before dawn to lunchtime. Alternatively, you will enjoy a visit to a tiny hamlet and swimming in crystal clear waters around the boat. Midday sail to uninhabited Rusa island: the beaches are truly fantastic, the corals exquisite and the island – as its name implies – is full of deers that are easily seen, sometimes even from the beach. Night sailing.

27 Nov.: Morning in Ile Ape, the northern volcanic peninsula of Lembata island. The smoking volcano is an exceptional sight to see at daybreak. Hike to the ancestral village on the slope of the volcano. Villagers are producing some very good ikat cloth here, following the true original techniques. Midday sail towards Adonara Island. We’ll spend the afternoon on an uninhabited tiny sand island just off the main island: swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.

28 Nov.: Our last morning on board will be spent on Besar Island, a mountainous volcanic island just off Flores. Nature hikes, snorkeling, diving and beach combing on the black sand beaches. Midday sail to the town of Maumere. The boat will drop us just after lunch at the beachside hotel where we’ll spend the rest of the afternoon and the night.

29 Nov.: On our way to the airport, we’ll stop at the very interesting market just outside the town of Maumere. Then return flight to Bali.

NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS
A LONG SEA VOYAGE IN AN AREA STILL LACKING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPLIES HAS TO BE MADE WITH A PARTICULARLY OPEN FRAME OF MIND. TIME AND HABITS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT WE EXPECT THEM TO BE. STANDARD OF CONFORT IN THE LOCAL TRANSPORTS AND AREA VISITED ARE CERTAINLY NOT WHAT ONE CAN EXPECT BACK IN EUROPE. THE ITINERARY ITSELF IS DEPENDANT ON SEA CONDITION AND CAN BE MODIFIED IF CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND IT TO BE.